Daily reflections

This chapter begins with an outline of the God-given authority of the state. Paul was writing in the context of Roman law, which was generally fair if sometimes appallingly brutal. Why did he feel he needed to say this?

In this chapter Paul is talking to believers from Jewish backgrounds who still want to keep the Jewish ritual laws, and Gentile believers who don't. His advice about eating vegetables is related to meat that might have been...

This section of Romans 15 ends with a benediction (verse 13). Paul has finished his arguments and his teaching about Jews and Gentiles, and commends his readers to God in their discipleship. Romans has a reputation for being...

Paul concludes his letter to the Romans with warm personal greetings. He recommends Phoebe (verses 1–2), a 'servant' of the church and 'protector' or 'friend' of many. Translators have argued about how the Greek words should...

Paul's letters to the Corinthians reflect the situation in a church that's strong and growing, but still learning how to be Christian. In this first chapter he compliments them on their faith, tells them off for quarrelling...

The opening verses of this chapter are a touching admission of Paul's lack of self-confidence as a preacher and evangelist when he came to Corinth: 'I was weak and trembled all over with fear', he says (verse 3). But while...

There's a big difference between theory and practice. The Corinthians have read Paul's inspiring words about the power of God at work in believers in the previous chapter, but then he takes them by surprise: he says bluntly...

Paul writes from the heart, not just the head. In this section, though he has tried so far to be diplomatic with the Corinthians, his irritation gets the better of him and he descends into sarcasm (verse 10). In their party...

Corinth had a reputation as a particularly immoral place, but by Paul's time this was largely historical and it would have been no worse than any other port city. It seems (verse 1) that a man had married or was sleeping with...